So then we're back to "i'm wounded and can't help what I say" and "I'm wounded more than you, so you should help what you say and let me say what I want." (Not talking about you specifically at all, just in general). I don't buy it; that just rings as rationalization and justification of bad behavior. (Again, really replying to a general sentiment that I've seen voiced by multiple people, not just you.) And that is why this problem continues to be a problem. Everyone has a responsibility to do better here with our words, but too many of us push off that responsibility on other while ignoring the proverbial plank in our own eye.

I really don't know what else to say. I've kind of reached my limit of watching good people wound each other with their words. That's not the kind of place PC was designed to be, at least I don't think so. But the reality is that this is social media and social media has gotten more and more vicious in the last few years. I have seen the same decline here, and that is a sad declination to observe, particularly when people I care about (even if they are just cyber-acquaintances) continue to hurt each other with their words. More and more, members fade away into the shadows because PC just has lost that safety it once had. I admire your willingness to bring up this topic. It is very brave and actually encouraging that it isn't just me who is seeing this happening. I'm usually not cynical by nature, but this dynamic has left me there.